Determination of triglyceride in the human myocardium by magnetic resonance spectroscopy: reproducibility and sensitivity of the method

• Published in: American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism 2005-11, Vol.289 (5), p.E935-E939
• Main Authors: Reingold, Jason S, McGavock, Jonathan M, Kaka, Shaheen, Tillery, Tommy, Victor, Ronald G, Szczepaniak, Lidia S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Female; Food Deprivation - physiology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - methods; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - standards; Male; Myocardium - chemistry; Myocardium - metabolism; Reproducibility of Results; Triglycerides - analysis; Triglycerides - metabolism
• ISSN: 0193-1849; 1522-1555
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00095.2005

Departments of 1 Internal Medicine and 2 Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas Submitted 3 March 2005 ; accepted in final form 15 June 2005 The primary aim of this investigation was to determine the reliability and sensitivity of 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS) as a method for quantifying myocardial triglyceride (TG) content in humans over time and in response to metabolic perturbations. Three separate experiments were designed to quantify myocardial TG content 1 ) over a 90-day period, 2 ) after a high-fat meal, and 3 ) after a 48-h fast. Proton spectra were collected from a 10 x 20 x 30-mm 3 voxel placed within the intraventricular septum, with measurements acquired at end-systole and end-expiration, using cardiac triggering and respiratory gating. Minimal variation was observed between myocardial TG content determined 90 days apart ( r = 0.98, CV = 5%), whereas TG values were unaffected by a high-fat meal despite a significant twofold increase ( P < 0.05) in serum TG. In contrast, myocardial TG content increased threefold ( P < 0.05) after a 48-h fast despite a 25% reduction in serum TG. Body mass index was significantly related to myocardial TG ( r = 0.58, P < 0.05) and the change in myocardial TG after a 48-h fast ( r 2 = 0.60). 1 H-MRS is a reliable method for the determination of myocardial TG in humans and is relatively unaffected by the consumption of one high-fat meal but sensitive to changes following a prolonged fast. cardiac spectroscopy; cardiac imaging; lipotoxicity; prolonged fasting Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: L. S. Szczepaniak, CS8.106 Div. of Hypertension, Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8899 (e-mail: lidia.szczepaniak{at}utsouthwestern.edu )